Fire-proof building



(No Model.)

W. ORR.

PIRE PROOF BUILDING.

No. 456,202. Patented July 21; 1891.

NITED STATES PATENT EErc'E.

lFIRE-PROC- BUILDING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 456,202, dated July 21, 1891.

Application tiled April 30, 1890l Serial No. 350,010. (No model.)

ing the object of the invention to provide an' improved construction by which the cost is reduced and the strength and fire-proof qualities of the ceiling or wall increased:

To this end my invention consists in an improved means for forming fire-proof structures with metallic lathing, and in .an improved ceiling and arch construction, all of which will be more particularly described in the specification, and pointed out in the claims.

For a full understandingr of my invention a detailed description will now be given, reference being had to the accompanying` drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l shows an arch constructed in accordance with my invention,part of the plastic material beingl removed. Fig. 2 shows the method of supporting the lathing during the process of constructing the arch. Fig. 3 is a section of the metallic frame of the arch of Figs. 1 and 2, taken across the curve and showing the preferred form of construction. Fig. 4t is a similar section of the same construction with metallic lathing formedv of perforated sheet metal. Fig. 5 is a similar section of a modiiied construction, in .which the lathing' is provided with osetting claips. Fig. 6 shows an adjustable frame, preferably used to support the lathing. Fig. 7 is a side view of the frame shown in Fig. G. Fig. 8 shows a sect-ion of straight ceiling constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring now particularly to Figs. l and 2, A are the ordinary I-beams of a ceiling,'and B an archsupported thereby, the arch being formed by a section ofmetallic lathing 2, sprung into position above the lower iianges l and embedded in abody of plastic material. For the purpose of supporting this metallic lathing during` the process of applying the plastic material I employ a frame formed preferably of side pieces 3 and SlatS 4 Supported thereonand forming the top of the frame. This frame may be supported in any suitable manner by blocking or otherwise; but I prefer to use the means shown, consisting of a light metallic hanger 5, supportedfrom the flanges of the beams by arms 6 and carrying the fram'e. This hanger is formed preferably in two parts, having a slot and set-screw connection 7, as shown in Fig. 2, by which the two parts of the hanger maybe drawn together and the ,supporting ends released from the flanges of thefbea'rns, thus allowing the frame to be removed from beneath the arch.

The supporting-frame may rest directly upon the hanger, as shown in Fig. 2; but I prefer to employ the construction shown in Fig. 6, in which the hanger is provided with set-screws 12 at each end on which the frame is supported and by which it may be adjusted vertically, -as desired. With this construction the metallic lathing having been sprung will be placed in position beneath it and raised by the set-screws 12 until it is in posi- 4vide the lathing, whether of the woven-wire form shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, or of the perforated sheet-metal form shown in Fig. 4,With ribs 8 and flanges 9 extending in the direction of the curve, these ribs and flanges being made to project from the body of the lathing a distance equal to the desired thickvinto position between the beams, the frame IOO ness of the plastic material on the underside oi' the lathing. The lathing thus being offset from the frame the cement, concrete, or other material of which the arch is to be formed will be poured on from above,having been allowed to thicken sufiiciently for this purpose. The depth of the coating formed will preferably be greater' on the upper, side of the lathing than on the lower, thus increasing the pressure on the arch and adding to the tensile strength of the metal a compress- 'ive strength produced by the weight of the body of the plastic material upon it; but this is not absol utely necessary. The cement having been allowed to set suiiiciently the two parts of the hanger 5 are drawn together, releasing the arms G from the anges of beams A, and the frame is withdrawn from beneath the arch and moved forward for theconstruction of anothersection. A coating of plaster or finish of any suitable material is then applied on the under side of the arch.

A section of lathing l0 will preferably be bent around the loweranges l of the beams, as shown in F ig. l, after the supporting-frame is removed, and covered with the plastic material, thus protecting the lianges of the beams also and increasing the fire-proof qualities of the construction. The plastic material will also preferably be applied to the sides of the beams and the base of the upper flanges, as shown.

It is evident that by the use of my supporting-frame all danger of the arch being thrown out of form by the greater pressure upon some parts produced by unequal distribution of the cement during the process of construction is avoided. By offsetting the lathing from the frame and applying the cement from above I provide a simple and convenient means of constructing a ceiling or arch in which the metallic frame formed by the lathing is entirely embeddedin a body of plastic material, the lathing forming a series of angles preventing any slipping between it and the plastic material, and the union of the two making an exceedingly strong ceiling andan arch that will stand any required test.

The downturned ribs and ilanges of the lathing are an important feature of my invention as applied to arch construction, independent oi' their use as a means for-offsetting the lathing from the supporting-frame. By the use of these ribs and flanges running in the direction of the curve the compressive strength of the metallic frame is greatly increased. So great is the advantage obtained by this that it will frequently be found not necessary to use the supporting-frame with lathing so constructed, the ribs and flanges adding sufficient strength to the lathing to support it during the process of applying the cement, so as to prevent the arch being thrown out of form. In case the frame be not employed the ribs and Hanges may be upon the upper or under side of the lathing and the cement applied from above or below, as preferred. For increasing the strength of the lathin g the flanges may bc secured to gether in any suitable manner, as by clips or lacing, as shown in Fig. 3.

Vhile I prefer to use the ribs and flanges, as shown in Figs. l to 4, on account of the greater strength of the arch secured thereby, as above described,itis evident that the lathing may be offset from the frame by other means, and that this olfsetting is independent of any strengthening feature added to the lathing 1tself. Thus I have shown in Fig. 5 a section of Woven-wire lathing in which clips 1l are used to olfset thelathingfrom the supporting-f rame. The same resultmaybe secured in many different ways, as by down-turned edges of perforated sheet metal or depressions in the metal. This method of supporting the lathing while the concrete is being applied maybe applied not only to an arch, for which it is especially desirable, but also to a straight ceiling, in which case the arms (5 of the hangers will be extended and the upper surface of the supporting-frame be a plane. A section of a ceiling C thus formed is shown in Fig. 8, in which the sheet of lathing is shown also as bent around the lower flanges of the beams at 14, so as to cover and protect them and avoid the `luse of the independent sheet of lathing for this purpose. This method of covering the flanges of the beams may be applied also to the arch construction of Fig. 1.

That I claim is# l. A {ire-proof ceiling consisting of metallic lath-ing extending from beam to beam and having upon its under side offsetting portions projecting from its body, and a body of plastic material applied from above and in which the body of the lathing and projections are embedded, substantially as described.

2. An arch formed of metallic lathingbent to the required form and having upon its under side offsetting portions projecting from its body, and a body of plastic material applied from above and. in which the body of the lathing and projections are embedded, substantially as described. v

An arch formed of metallic lathing bent to the required form and having upon its under side ribs or iianges extending in the line of the curve, and a body of plastic material applied from above and in which the body of the lathing and the ribs or flanges are embedded, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the beams A, of a hanger 5, adjustable in length transversely to the beams and provided with arms G, adapted to be hooked over the flanges of the beams, and a lathing-supporting frame carried by said hanger, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the beams A, of a hanger 5, adjustable in length transversely to the beams and provided with arms G, adapted to be hooked over the flanges of the beams, and a lathing-supportin g frame carried by IOO said haugerand verticallyadjustable thereon, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 1o substantially as described. my hand in the presence of two subscribing G. The combination, With the beams A, of Witnesses.l the two-pmt hanger 5, provided with arms (5, v

adapted to be hooked over the flanges of the VILLIAM ORR. beams, set-screws l2, carried by said hanger, t and a lathing-supporting frame vertically ad- Vitnesses:

justable by said set-screws, substantially as A. D. CARNAGY,

described. H. N. CORNING. 

